Updated on October 8, 2026
Food Safety
15 min read
Health & Safety legislation guidance for schools: The key legislation to know
Health & Safety in a school covers far more than classroom accidents. It stretches from playgrounds and science labs to school trips, staff wellbeing, and busy catering kitchens.
Health and Safety Executive figures show that the education sector is the third-highest industry for self-reported work-related ill health in 2024/25 — a rate higher than in sectors like construction and manufacturing.
So, what does the law actually expect from education settings? We’ll break down the key Health & Safety legislation in schools, who holds responsibility, and the practical steps you can take to keep pupils, staff, and visitors safe.
Key summary
- Legislation — The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 forms the basis of Health & Safety law in Great Britain. It’s supported by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other rules covering specific risks.
- Responsibility — Overall responsibility sits with the employer. This may be the local authority, governing body, academy trust or proprietor. Day-to-day management is usually delegated to the headteacher and senior leadership team.
- Requirements — Schools must assess significant risks, set out clear responsibilities and put practical controls in place to protect staff, pupils, visitors and contractors.
- Food safety — School kitchens and catering areas bring Health & Safety and food safety responsibilities together. Schools need controls for workplace hazards, along with safe food handling, allergen management, and hygiene procedures.
What Health & Safety legislation applies to schools?
Health & Safety legislation in schools protects staff and anyone affected by school activities. That includes pupils, visitors, volunteers, and contractors.
The two main laws and regulations schools need to know are:
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the main UK legislation for safeguarding Health & Safety in all workplaces across all industries, not just schools.
It means that employers have a legal duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their staff and anyone else affected by their work. For schools, it includes teachers, other on-site staff, students, contractors, and visitors, like parents.
It includes providing:
- Suitable staff training for health and safety procedures
- Adequate welfare support for staff
- A safe and well-maintained working environment
- Appropriate supervision, instruction, and relevant information
- Safe equipment and systems of work
If a workplace has five or more employees, the employer must create and keep a written version of their Health & Safety policy for staff to easily refer to.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
This legislation supports HASAWA 1974 by adding an extra layer of due diligence, focused on identifying risks and reducing the likelihood of them happening. Workplaces, like schools, must conduct risk assessments, identify hazards, and put suitable controls in place to manage them.
In schools and workplaces with five or more workers, significant findings from risk assessments must be recorded.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also require that employers:
- Appoint a ‘competent personnel’ to oversee Health & Safety
- Offer clear information and training for employees
- Set emergency procedures in the event of an accident
Other school Health & Safety legislation
School safety doesn’t stop at these two laws. More specific regulations cover everything from fire precautions and hazardous chemicals to work equipment, first aid, asbestos and accident reporting.
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 — Requires that employers provide a safe environment that’s suitable for school duties. This includes adequate lighting and ventilation, clean and sanitary provisions like breakrooms and toilets, and properly maintained equipment.
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — This Order sets out fire safety precautions for schools in England and Wales, including fire risk assessments and evacuation procedures.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 — COSHH requires that employers assess and prevent risks from hazardous substances. It applies to substances like cleaning products, lab chemicals, dusts, and fumes.
- Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 — This regulation calls for employers to provide suitable first-aid arrangements, equipment, and facilities for employees. A sufficient number of trained first aiders should also be appointed.
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 — This Provision covers the safe use and maintenance of equipment and tools by employees at work. It may include design and technology machinery, catering equipment, and maintenance equipment like ladders.
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 — This regulation means that electrical systems and equipment must be maintained so that they don’t pose a risk of electric shocks, burns, fires, or other hazards. Schools must provide proof that electrical systems are safe through regular inspections, testing, and maintenance.
- The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012 — Government data found that asbestos is still present in 83.5% of state schools in England (as of the 2019 report), and this regulation aims to help workplaces manage the risk from asbestos fibres. Employers must determine whether asbestos is present, develop a plan to manage the fibres, and conduct regular risk assessments.
That may sound like a lot, and these aren’t a complete list of all of the legislation schools should be aware of, but the goal isn’t to create endless paperwork. It’s about focusing on hazards that could cause real harm and putting sensible, proportionate controls in place.
Annabel Kyle, Technical Director at Food Alert, comments:
“Health & Safety legislation in schools can feel like an administrative obstacle, but its aim is to provide a sensible framework for risk management. It isn’t about stopping school trips or creating folders of untouched paperwork, it’s about giving staff clear, workable guidance so pupils can learn and explore safely every day.”
Who is responsible for Health & Safety in a school?
Health & Safety in schools is a team effort, but overall legal responsibility sits with the employer of the staff. Who that is depends on the type of educational setting.
The employer may be:
- The local authority for community, voluntary-controlled, and maintained nursery schools
- The governing body for foundation and voluntary-aided schools
- The academy trust for academies and free schools
- The proprietor of an independent school
The employer must make sure risks to staff, pupils, and visitors are managed so far as is reasonably practicable. Specific tasks can be handed over to someone else, but the employer can’t pass on its overall legal accountability.
Here are some other key figures of responsibility within a school:
- Headteachers and senior leaders — Day-to-day responsibility usually sits with the headteacher and school management team. They’re the people connecting the policy on paper with what actually happens across the school.
- Governors and trustees — Governors and trustees provide oversight and challenge. They should check that the school follows the employer’s policies, staff receive appropriate training, and suitable advice is available when needed.
- School employees — Every employee has a part to play. Amongst other tasks, they must take reasonable care of their own Health & Safety and that of others, complete the necessary training, report serious hazards and immediate dangers, and raise concerns through the school’s agreed procedures.
- The ‘competent person’ — Schools must appoint one or more ‘competent people’ to help them meet their Health & Safety duties. A competent person has the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to recognise hazards and recommend sensible guidance. They could be an employee, the local authority or academy trust, or an external Health & Safety specialist.
Annabel says:
“While overall legal accountability remains with the employer, real safety happens on the ground in classrooms, labs, and corridors. Appointing a competent person bridges the gap between high-level policy and everyday routines, giving school leaders the expert reassurance they need to protect pupils without overburdening teachers.”
School Health & Safety responsibilities: employer vs staff
We’ve outlined the employer and key members of staff who shoulder health and safety responsibilities in an educational setting, but differentiating which tasks fall to each party can be tricky.
That’s why we’ve outlined the key responsibilities for employers and employees, according to HASAWA 1974:
| Employer responsibilities | Employee responsibilities |
| Keep safe workplace environments and equipment | Take reasonable care of their own Health & Safety |
| Provide information, instruction, and training | Follow Health & Safety training and procedures |
| Conduct regular risk assessments | Report hazards |
| Implement safe systems of work | Use equipment and tools safely and correctly |
What must schools do to comply with Health & Safety law?
Knowing which regulations apply is only the first step. Education settings also need to turn those legal duties into clear routines that work across the premises every day.
Here are the key steps to take:
1. Maintain a school-specific Health & Safety policy
Every school must have a Health & Safety policy that explains:
- Who is responsible for each area of Health & Safety
- How the school identifies and controls risks
- Which practical measures staff need to follow
- How performance will be checked and reviewed
- How accidents, emergencies and concerns will be managed
A generic policy with the school’s name added at the top won’t tell staff what to do when something goes wrong. The document needs to reflect the building, curriculum, workforce, and pupils it’s designed to protect.
The Department for Education recommends structuring Health & Safety management around four stages:
- Plan for effective Health & Safety management
- Do introduce systems and processes that make sure risks are dealt with sensibly and responsibly
- Check how these systems are functioning and report results to the required parties
- Act by implementing a formal review of Health & Safety performance
This helps schools move from setting expectations to actively checking whether they’re working in practice.
2. Complete risk assessments
Risk assessments help schools identify what could cause harm, who may be affected, and which controls are needed.
Depending on the setting, they may cover:
- Classrooms and shared areas
- Playgrounds, sports, and physical education
- Science, art, and design and technology activities
- Educational visits and off-site activities
- School events and extracurricular clubs
- Contractors and maintenance work
- Staff wellbeing and occupational risks
- Pupils or employees who may need additional support
For hazards involving cleaning products, lab chemicals, or other harmful substances, follow our guide to completing a COSHH risk assessment.
Keep records simple and focused on the controls people need to follow. Risk assessments should be reviewed when there’s reason to believe they’re no longer valid or when a significant change takes place.
3. Put hazard controls into daily practice
A completed hazard form won’t make a loose handrail, blocked fire exit, or unsafe piece of equipment disappear.
Schools need clear arrangements for:
- Routine premises checks
- Reporting and fixing defects
- Maintaining equipment
- Managing contractors
- Storing hazardous substances
- Preparing for emergencies
- Assigning actions and deadlines
- Checking that agreed controls are followed
Keeping these responsibilities visible helps stop small issues from falling between teams.
4. Manage food safety as part of the wider picture
School kitchens bring food safety and Health & Safety together under one roof.
Alongside serving safe and nutritious food, schools need to manage kitchen hazards like hot equipment, sharp utensils, wet floors, and cleaning chemicals. A broken fridge seal, poorly stored allergen information, or a rushed cleaning routine can create several risks at once.
Schools and their catering providers should have controls covering:
- Safe food preparation, cooking, chilling, and storage
- Prevention of cross-contamination
- Allergen information and cross-contact controls
- Cleaning and disinfection
- Temperature monitoring
- Safe use and maintenance of catering equipment
- Storage of chemicals under the COSHH regulations
- Waste and pest management
- Staff training and supervision
- Documented food safety management procedures
School kitchens must also have suitable food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles. At Food Alert, our HACCP support service helps you meet all seven HACCP principles and stay compliant. You can also learn more about HACCP in our comprehensive guide.
The Food Standards Agency also strongly recommends good preparation, hygiene, and communication practices to manage allergens.
Annabel explains:
“School kitchens present a unique compliance challenge because they sit directly at the intersection of general workplace safety and strict food hygiene rules. A wet floor, a hot equipment hazard, or an unmanaged allergen can all jeopardise pupil safety. Diligently completing daily checks and having clear communication between catering staff and leadership is vital to maintaining standards.”
5. Record and investigate accidents
Schools need a clear process for recording accidents, incidents, and near misses.
The purpose isn’t simply to fill in the accident book; investigating what happened can reveal damaged equipment, unclear instructions, or repeated hazards that need attention.
Schools should:
- Record the relevant details
- Establish what caused the incident
- Take corrective action
- Share useful lessons with staff
- Look for recurring patterns
- Report the incident under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) when the legal criteria are met
Most school incidents and school-trip accidents don’t need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. But they may still need an internal investigation and follow-up.
Annabel comments:
“Investigating a near-miss or minor incident should be treated extremely seriously, and the right corrective steps need to be taken to prevent it from happening again. But it’s also a useful tool for proactive risk management. When school boards treat accident logs as learning opportunities to fix faulty equipment or update impractical guidance, they create a transparent safety culture where staff feel supported to raise concerns.”
6. Monitor, review and improve
School Health & Safety legislation can be reviewed at any time, and updates will also be needed as the school changes.
A new piece of equipment, building work, curriculum activity, or catering process could introduce risks that weren’t covered before. Schools should monitor performance, review policies, and update risk assessments when circumstances change.
Regular reviews should consider:
- Whether controls are working
- Outstanding actions and recurring defects
- Accident and near-miss trends
- Feedback from staff
- Changes to the premises or activities
- Lessons from emergencies and incidents
- Whether responsibilities remain clear
Independent audits can add another layer of assurance by comparing the policy with what’s actually happening on site. We offer comprehensive, expert-led Health & Safety audits as part of our Compliance Membership package. Our annual membership package is tailored to your educational facility’s unique needs, helping you meet the training, risk assessment, HACCP development, and incident management criteria for creating and maintaining a safe school environment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main Health & Safety legislation for schools?
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the main law governing Health & Safety in schools across Great Britain.
It’s supported by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require schools to assess risks and put proportionate controls in place. Other separate regulations cover specific areas like fire safety, hazardous substances, work equipment, first aid, and incident reporting.
Who is legally responsible for Health & Safety in a school?
In a school, the responsibility sits with the employer. For independent schools, the proprietor is responsible for the health and safety of staff and pupils.
Day-to-day responsibility is usually delegated to the headteacher and the school management team, but the employer still holds overall accountability and can’t delegate away its legal duties.
Do schools legally need a Health & Safety policy?
Yes, schools in the UK must have an up-to-date Health & Safety policy that accurately reflects their premises, activities, and responsibilities.
The policy should explain who is responsible for each area, how risks are controlled, and how arrangements will be monitored and reviewed. It should be a working document rather than something that sits untouched in a folder.
How often should school risk assessments be reviewed?
There’s no strict timeframe for how often school risk assessments should be reviewed, but it’s strongly recommended that it happens at least once a year.
Or, schools should review an assessment when there’s reason to believe it’s no longer valid or after a significant change. This might be because the school has introduced new equipment, there’ve been changes to the premises, or an incident highlighted that the existing controls weren’t working.
Does RIDDOR apply to accidents involving pupils?
Yes, RIDDOR applies to accidents on a school premises involving pupils and visitors, as long as:
- The injury arose out of or in connection with a work activity, and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to the hospital for treatment
- The accident resulted in the death of the person and arose out of or in connection with a work activity
In these events, a report may be required.
Do Health & Safety laws apply to school trips?
Yes, schools are responsible for managing Health & Safety when pupils are in the care of school staff during trips and off-site activities.
Routine visits involving everyday risks, like slips and trips, may already be covered by existing policies.
Higher-risk trips are likely to need a specific risk assessment and additional planning. This might be because of things like the trip being a significant distance away from the school, students might be participating in an activity, or there might be a need for staff with specialist skills.
Is food safety part of Health & Safety in schools?
Food safety forms part of a school’s wider responsibility to protect pupils, employees, and visitors, although it’s governed by separate food hygiene and allergen legislation.
Schools need to manage kitchen workplace hazards alongside controls for safe food handling, hygiene, temperature monitoring, and allergens.
Think of food safety and Health & Safety as a two-pronged approach for keeping staff, pupils, and visitors safe.
Food Alert can work alongside your school as an essential partner for managing food safety and wider compliance with confidence. Discover our expert Alert65 food safety management software for everyday compliance in one simple platform, or our Compliance Membership package for extra support.
